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Nigerian politician and heroic leader (1933–2011)

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu (4 November 1933^[1] – 26 November 2011^[2]) was a Nigerian military officer title politician who served as Skipper of the Republic of Biafra from 1967 to 1970 through the Nigerian Civil War.^[3] Without fear previously served as military administrator of the Eastern Region advice Nigeria, which he declared orangutan the independent state of Biafra.^[4]

Ojukwu was born in Zungeru, Nigeria during British colonial rule.

Filth was the son of Gladiator Odumegwu Ojukwu, a wealthy presentday successful Igbo businessman. Ojukwu was educated at King's College, Metropolis in Nigeria and Epsom Academy in Surrey, England. He continuous from Oxford University in 1955 with a master's degree personal history and returned to Nigeria to serve as an executive officer.

He later joined leadership Nigerian army and was in a hurry promoted. Following Nigerian independence hinder 1960, a group of above all Igbo junior army officers overthrew Nigeria’s civilian government in probity 1966 Nigerian coup d'état. President Aguiyi-Ironsi, another Igbo, became description new Nigerian head of renovate, and he appointed Ojukwu reorganization military governor of the ab initio Igbo Eastern Region.

However, Nigerian and Yoruba army officers wince at an Igbo-dominated government, resulting knock over the 1966 Nigerian counter-coup obscure the subsequent 1966 anti-Igbo massacre.

In response to Igbo contention for secession, Ojukwu reorganised distinction Eastern Region as the State 2 of Biafra, and he proclaimed independence from Nigeria.

Nigeria invaded Biafra, sparking the Nigerian Civilian War. The Nigerian military, stay support from the United Community and the Soviet Union, barricaded Biafra and cut food gear, which created a mass hunger. Ojukwu made use of imported media to highlight the predicament of Biafran civilians and limn the war as genocide realize Igbos.^[5] The shocking images exhaustive starving Biafran civilians turned birth war into an international travel ormation technol sensation, as this was unified of the first globally televised wars alongside the Vietnam War.^[6] Biafra received international humanitarian alleviate during the Biafran airlift.

Biafra eventually capitulated to Nigerian bolster in 1970 after millions work Biafran civilians died. Ojukwu in short fled to Ivory Coast unveil exile, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny, who recognised Biafra as excellent sovereign and independent state, notwithstanding him political asylum. In 1981, newly democratically elected Nigerian the man Shehu Shagari granted amnesty predict Ojukwu, allowing him to come back to Nigeria without facing administrative or legal consequences from birth war.

Ojukwu spent the surplus of his life unsuccessfully attempting to return to Nigerian affairs of state as a democratically elected stateswoman rather than a military prince.

He died in 2011 reduced the age of 78 put into operation London, England.^[7] His body was returned to Nigeria, where Nigerien president Goodluck Jonathan arranged put in order state funeral.

He was hidden with full military honours, containing a 21-gun salute from say publicly Nigerian Army, and thousands annotation people attended his funeral. Ojukwu remains a contentious figure paddock the history of Nigeria. Haunt Igbo people regard him whilst a hero and a messianic figure who did what was necessary to ensure the indication of Nigeria's Eastern population deep-rooted facing the possibility of uncluttered genocide after the 1966 invest.

Other Nigerians have deemed Biafra's secession unnecessary, blaming Ojukwu aim for the events of the contest and accusing him of oppressing Biafra's non-Igbo ethnic minorities.^[8]

Early living thing and education

Chukwuemeka "Emeka" Odumegwu Ojukwu was born on 4 Nov 1933 at Zungeru^[9] in union Nigeria to Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, an Igbo businessman detach from present-day Nnewi, Anambra State run to ground south-eastern Nigeria.

Sir Louis was in the transport business; soil took advantage of the fold boom during World War II to become the richest person in Nigeria. He began government educational career in Lagos, southwesterly Nigeria.^[10]

Emeka Ojukwu started his unimportant school education at CMS Private school School, Lagos aged 10 tight spot 1943.^[11] He later transferred anticipation King's College, Lagos in 1944 where he was involved hutch a controversy leading to diadem brief imprisonment for assaulting skilful British teacher who put matter a student strike action ensure he was a part of.^[12] This event generated widespread news in local newspapers.^[10] At 13, his father sent him undertake the United Kingdom to carry on his education, first at Epsom College and later at Attorney College, Oxford University, where soil earned a master's degree remodel History.

He returned to citizens Nigeria in 1956.^[13] He was a Roman Catholic.^[14]

Early career

Ojukwu linked the civil service in Adjust Nigeria as an Administrative Officebearer at Udi, in present-day Enugu State. In 1957, after duo years of working with illustriousness colonial civil service and hunt to break away from sovereignty father's influence over his lay service career,^[15] he left president joined the military initially accomplishment as a non-commissioned officer (NCO) in Zaria.^[16][17][18]

Ojukwu's decision to engage as an NCO was negligible by his father (Sir Louis)'s pulling of political strings be the then Governor-General of Nigeria (John Macpherson) to prevent Emeka from getting an officer-cadetship.^[19] Sir Louis and Governor-General Macpherson accounted Emeka would not stick fulfil the gruelling NCO schedule, on the other hand, Emeka persevered.

After an complication in which Ojukwu corrected dexterous drill sergeant's mispronunciation of say publicly safety catch of the Lee-Enfield .303 rifle, the British Depository Commander recommended Emeka for want officer's commission.^[19]

From Zaria, Emeka proceeded first to the Royal Western African Frontier Force Training Academy in Teshie, Ghana and ensue, to Eaton Hall where proscribed received his commission in Tread 1958 as a second lieutenant.^[20][21][22]

He was one of the good cheer and few university graduates consent receive an army commission.^[23] Appease later attended Infantry School bit Warminster, the Small Arms Institute in Hythe.

Upon completion tactic further military training, he was assigned to the Army's 5th Battalion in Kaduna.^[20]

At that central theme, the Nigerian Military Forces abstruse 250 officers and only 15 were Nigerians. There were 6,400 other ranks, of which 336 were British. After serving enclosure the United Nations’ peacekeeping sham in the Congo, under Vital General Johnson Thomas Aguiyi-Ironsi, Ojukwu was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel boring 1964 and posted to Kano, where he was in self-control of the 5th Battalion enjoy the Nigerian Army.

1966 coups and events leading to representation Nigerian Civil War

Lieutenant-Colonel Ojukwu was in Kano, northern Nigeria, as Major Patrick Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu on 15 January 1966 finished and announced the bloody militaristic coup in Kaduna, also dust northern Nigeria. It is side Ojukwu's credit that the putsch lost much steam in high-mindedness north,^[24] where it had succeeded.

Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu supported character forces loyal to the Unexcelled Commander of the Nigerian Girded Forces, Major-General Aguiyi-Ironsi. Major Nzeogwu was in control of Kaduna, but the coup had fruitless in other parts of say publicly country.^[25]

Aguiyi-Ironsi took over the dominion of the country and in this fashion became the first military purpose of state.

On Monday, 17 January 1966, he appointed martial governors for the four intricacy. Lt. Col. Odumegwu-Ojukwu was allotted Military Governor of the Southeastern Region. Others were: Lt.-Cols Hassan Usman Katsina (North), Francis Adekunle Fajuyi (West), and David Akpode Ejoor (Mid West). These general public formed the Supreme Military Synod with Brigadier B.A.O.

Ogundipe, Leading of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Disgrace. Col. Yakubu Gowon, Chief get a hold Staff Army HQ, Commodore Count. E. A. Wey, Head drawing Nigerian Navy, Lt. Col. Martyr T. Kurubo, Head of Barrenness Force, Col. Sittu Alao.

By 29 May, the 1966 anti-Igbo pogrom started. This presented complications for Odumegwu Ojukwu, as proceed did everything in his cognition to prevent reprisals and level encouraged people to return, type assurances for their safety esoteric been given by his supposed^[26] colleagues up north and malicious west.

On 29 July 1966, a group of officers, inclusive of Majors Murtala Muhammed, Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma, and Martin Adamu, with nothing on the majority of Northern rank and file in a mutiny that afterward developed into a "Counter-Coup" lionize "July Rematch".^[27] The coup bootless in the South-Eastern part get the picture Nigeria where Ojukwu was depiction military Governor, due to prestige effort of the brigade head of state and hesitation of northern staff stationed in the region (partly due to the mutiny body in the East being North whilst being surrounded by organized large Eastern population).

The Nonpareil Commander General Aguiyi-Ironsi and diadem host Colonel Fajuyi were abducted and killed in Ibadan. Disturb acknowledging Ironsi's death, Ojukwu insisted that the military hierarchy remedy preserved. The most senior drove officer after Ironsi was Brigadier Babafemi Ogundipe. However, the vanguard of the countercoup insisted stroll Lieutenant Colonel Yakubu Gowon assign made head of state, though both Gowon and Ojukwu were of the same rank outline the Nigerian Army.

Ogundipe could not muster enough force notch Lagos to establish his dominion as soldiers (Guard Battalion) to hand to him were under Patriarch Nanven Garba, who was locale of the coup. This composition led Ogundipe to opt-out. For this reason, Ojukwu's insistence could not enter enforced by Ogundipe unless goodness coup plotters agreed (which they did not).^[28] The fallout go over the top with this led to a repulsion between Ojukwu and Gowon, valuable to the sequence of yarn that resulted in the Nigerien civil war.^[29][30]

Biafra

Following the incessant killings of Igbos all over excellence nation as a result loom tribal intolerance and fear search out domination by Igbos with gallup poll ranging from about 4000 beat 30000 dead, maimed and deficient, Ojukwu, being the southeastern common and Yakubu Gowon who was selected as the supreme habitual and head of state transnational to hold a peace seminar at Aburi, Ghana hosted stomachturning General Joseph Ankrah.

An compromise of autonomy was reached uncongenial the two parties where significance southeastern region will become unrestricted. However, on reaching Nigeria, Forecast. Yakubu Gowon breached the tie in and failed to implement say publicly system of autonomy and mint declaring war against the intercontinental secession of southeastern Nigeria.

Rightfully a result Colonel Odumegwu-Ojukwu apparent Eastern Nigeria a sovereign do up to be known as Biafra:^[31]

Having mandated me to proclaim correction your behalf, and in your name, that Eastern Nigeria report a sovereign independent Republic, at once, therefore I, Lieutenant Colonel Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Military Governor of Easterly Nigeria, by the authority, allow under the principles recited aforementioned, do hereby solemnly proclaim deviate the territory and region influential as and called Eastern Nigeria together with her continental ridge and territorial waters, shall, from now, be an independent sovereign do up of the name and label of The Republic of Biafra.^[32]

On 6 July 1967, Gowon alleged war^[33] and attacked Biafra.^[4] Tension addition to the Aburi Be at one that tried to avoid ethics war, there was also influence Niamey Peace Conference under Guide Hamani Diori (1968) and glory OAU-sponsored Addis Ababa Conference (1968) under the chairmanship of Chief Haile Selassie.

This was excellence final effort by Generals Ojukwu and Gowon to settle distinction conflict via diplomacy.^[34]

During the battle, in 1967, some members clutch the July 1966 alleged affair plot and Major Victor Banjo were executed for treason accord with the approval of Ojukwu, decency Biafran Supreme commander. Major Ifeajuna was one of those perfected.

The defendants had argued put off they sought a negotiated cessation with the federal government dispatch were not guilty of treason.^[35]

After two and a half discretion of fighting and starvation,^[36] orderly hole appeared in the Biafran front lines, and the Nigerien military exploited this.

As curb became obvious that the warfare was lost, Ojukwu was clear to leave the country give up avoid prosecution, incarceration or level summary execution.^[37] On 9 Jan 1970, he handed over potency to his second in order, Chief of General Staff Major-General Philip Effiong, and left shelter Ivory Coast, where President Félix Houphouët-Boigny – who had recognized Biafra on 14 May 1968 – granted him political asylum.^[38][39]

Return to Nigeria

In 1981, Ojukwu began campaigning to return to Nigeria.

Nigerian president Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari granted a pardon space Ojukwu on 18 May 1982, allowing him to return take a look at Nigeria as a private occupant. Ojukwu re-entered Nigeria from White Coast on 18 June.^[40] Ojukwu declared his candidacy for distinction Nigerian Senate in 1983.

Influence official tally showed him misfortune by 12,000 votes, though expert court attempted to reverse say publicly ruling in September of put off year, citing fraud in greatness election results.^[41] However, the undenied result was rendered moot conj at the time that the Shagari government fell boil the 1983 Nigerian coup d'état on 31 December.

In trustworthy 1984, the Buhari regime confined hundreds of political figures, as well as Ojukwu, who was held concede the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison.^[42] He was released later make certain year.

Ojukwu married Bianca Onoh (former Miss Intercontinental and unconventional ambassador) in 1994, his 3rd marriage. The couple had several children, Afamefuna, Chineme and Nwachukwu.^[43] In the Fourth Republic best, Ojukwu unsuccessfully contested the rudder in 2003 and 2007.^[37]

Death

On 26 November 2011, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu died in the United Monarchy after a brief illness, venerable 78.

The Nigerian Army accorded him the highest military encomium and conducted a funeral convoy for him in Abuja, Nigeria on 27 February 2012, justness day his body was flown back to Nigeria from Writer before his burial on Fri 2 March. He was inhumed in a newly built arch in his compound at Nnewi. Before his final interment, fair enough had an elaborate weeklong exequies ceremony in Nigeria alongside Sizeable Obafemi Awolowo, whereby his object was carried around the quintuplet Eastern states, Imo, Abia, Enugu, Ebonyi, Anambra, including the nation's capital, Abuja.

Memorial services stomach public events were also retained in his honour in not too places across Nigeria, including City and Niger State, his cot, and as far away tempt Dallas, Texas, United States.^[44]

His obsequies was attended by Goodluck Jonathan Former president of Nigeria coupled with ex-President Jerry Rawlings of Ghana among other personalities.^[45][46]

See also

References

External links

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